Swimming

Performance swimming gear

For all you swimmers out there, we have all the equipment you need. Whether you are training or racing out in the ocean or a pool, your needs will vary and so should your equipment. We bring you exclusive products made by the most respected names in the industry and combine our expert knowledge to assist you to reach your training and racing goals, at each step of your journey. Triathlon involves a lot of time investment, we at Apex Multisport believe that your equipment should be an investment too. Our brands help you perform better by providing you with the latest technology in the rapidly evolving world of triathlon. Our featured brands use the highest quality materials for comfort and performance, giving you the edge in competition

F.A.Q

Wetsuit – a suitable wetsuit for triathlon is designed specifically to facilitate your swimming stroke. It should be lightweight and comfortable and help you slice through the water. It will provide enough flexibility and freedom of movement to swim and not restrict your movement. Triathlon wetsuits are also designed to take off very quickly – which is vital in transition saving you time and helping you achieve that dream race time. Premium wetsuits are designed to be as hydrophobic as possible helping you slice through the water at a faster pace. Triathlon wetsuits also have thinner sections on the arms to help movement economy.

Goggles – Normal clear swimming goggles are great for indoor pool use, but triathlon involves outdoor swimming – most often in the ocean sometimes in lakes. Because of the nature of triathlon and needing to ‘sight’ while swimming you need polarised goggles that will cut out the glare of the sun helping you navigate clearly on the race course. Additionally, you may need goggles that are not too dark as open water can be dark and murky. Properly designed goggles will provide you with a good balance of these two variables.

Anti-chafe – one specifically for use with wetsuits. Ordinary anti-chafe creams and oils can damage your wetsuit. Only use anti-chaff products that specifically are designed for wetsuit use too.

Training aids – Pool swimming is at the heart of most triathletes’ swim training. There are specific aids that can either make your swim session more comfortable or help your performance – such as nose clips to keep chlorine out of your noses if you struggle with sensitive sinuses. Or ear plugs if you struggle with ear ache, or would like to reduce the amount of water in your ears after your swim.

Pool buoys, freestyle snorkel, paddles and fins – are all tools that will help you strengthen areas of weakness and help you build strength for endurance and technique correction. Your triathlon or swimming coach will be able to advise you on what you need at your current level and swimming ability.

Trisuit – a trisuit is the hallmark item of every triathlete. With it you can swim in your wetsuit, peel it off and can go straight on a bike and/or run with it. It has a more minimal padding for your bike leg but less weight than traditional cycling chamois. It will hold less water making it lighter and more comfortable for your run. A high-quality trisuit will be comfortable, have a race fit to be aero on the bike and save you a ton of time in transitions.

Triathlon wetsuits should always be handled with care, here is a list of things to ensure your wetsuit lasts from one race season to the next. Most damage to a triathlon wetsuit comes from not handing it with the appropriate care. Here are some tips to get the most out of your wetsuit life.

During use:

Always put on your wetsuit with care. Take your time and be careful not to pull your wetsuit up with your nails curled in which could scratch the lightweight neoprene.

Put on your wetsuit with a small plastic bag or gloves. This helps put it on smoother as well as protecting the material from nails.

Take your time putting on your wetsuit. If you need to talk to us in store and we’ll happily show you how to don your wetsuit without damaging it, there is a right way and a wrong way to put on a wetsuit.

Avoid swimming with your wetsuit in chlorine pools, as it is damaging to your wetsuit material.

After swimming with it rinse your wetsuit by hand with lukewarm fresh water and let it dry out of direct sunlight.

Triathlon wetsuits are very carefully designed with their intended use and should not be used for other ocean sports, like surfing and stand up paddle boarding.

Don’t share wetsuits as it will naturally stretch a little and adapt to your body shape.

Aftercare:

Use anti-chafe that is designed for wetsuits. These typically are water soluble and often contain natural ingredients.

Avoiding using petroleum-based lubricants with your wetsuits, if you must avoid it coming in direct contact with your wetsuit material.

Don’t use hard abrasive cleaning detergents, you can use wetsuit specific ‘fresheners’ or ‘wetsuit shampoos’.

Use a special wetsuit hanger that has a rubberised coating to protect it from sharp plastic edges which can be found on normal hangers. Don’t use metal hangers they can rust and leave rust marks and stain your wetsuit.

When drying your wetsuit turn it inside out first then dry the outside, always in the shade and minimize that time it is exposed to direct sunlight when not swimming.

When not in use, store your wetsuit inside out so that the exposed neoprene won’t catch on any sharp edges.

After drying your wetsuit store it folded carefully in a cool dry place.

Keep the velcro covered when not in use so that it doesn’t scrape the neoprene.

When using a hanger use a wide one so that your wetsuit isn’t creased and only keep it hanging as long as is needed.

Jewellery can scratch your wetsuit, be careful of what you wear it with.

If you get a small cut or tear in your wetsuit, it can often be repaired but with a proper ‘wetsuit glue’ do not use any ordinary glue the chemicals in them can deteriorate your wetsuit. Additionally, there are wetsuit repair services that can do this for you.